Adjustable die apparatus



June 5, 1962 L. v. WHISTLER, sR., ETAL ADJUSTABLE DIE APPARATUS Filed March 4, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sr. 8 istler, Jr.

ATTORNEYS Lawrence V. Whistler F|G 2 Lawrence V. Wh

E n a w 5 I. WHWQ Mm WW I G n. mMw H u Wwm a June 5, 1962 L. v. WHISTLER, sR., EIAL 7, 7

ADJUSTABLE DIE APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 4, 1959 INVENTORS Lawrence V. Whistler, 8:18

Lawrence V. Whistlegdr.

BYJ

ATTORNEYS June 5, 1962 1.. v. WHISTLER, 5a., ETAL 3,037,473

ADJUSTABLE DIE APPARATUS Filed March 4, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 36 3 V Evan's- 5 "I n r 5 53 S E 31 s g INVENTORS Lawrence V. Whistler, Sr.8 Lawrence V. Whistler, Jr.

ATTORNEY-5 1.. v. WHISTLER, sR., ETAL 3,037,473

ADJUSTABLE DIE APPARATUS 4 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTORS Lawrence V. Whistler, Sr.8\ Lawrence V. Whistler, Jr.

ATTORNEYS June 5, '1962 Filed March 4, 1959 United States Pate 3,037,473 ADJUSTABLE DIE APPARATUS Lawrence V. Whistler, Sr., 259 Doncaster Road, and Lawrence V. Whistler, Jr., 251 Doncaster Road, both of Kenmore, N.Y.

Filed Mar. 4, 1959, Ser. No. 797,075 15 Claims. (Cl. 113-49) The present invention relates to a new and novel adjustable die apparatus, and more particularly to a die apparatus which is especially adapted to be adjusted to vary the shape and size thereof.

The present invention relates to die operations such as drawing, trimming, flanging, blanking, and hole punching operations, and is especially adapted for use in drawing, trimming, and blanking and is described in connection with such operations, although the basic principles of the invention may be employed with other similar die operaations. The cost of construction of draw dies and the like is a costly item, and has long been the source of excessive cost when it is necessary to change the size or the shape of dies employed quite often or when small production runs are to be made. It has long been a common practice to construct individual dies for each particular job, and this is true even where similarly shaped objects are to be made wherein the size of the objects may be slightly different.

It is accordingly evident that it is highly desirable to provide an arrangement wherein it is not necessary to construct a completely new die for each particular size or shape to be made with the die apparatus. Accordingly, the present invention is specifically designed with this in mind such that only a relatively inexpensive die ring and pressure ring need be made for each particular job, the remaining components of the apparatus being adjustable and interchangeable such that they can be used over and over again when performing dieing operations to produce objects of different sizes and shapes.

A particular advantage of the present invention is the fact that the construction is such that it permits the drawing or trimming and the like of objects which may be round, oval, square, rectangular or various other special shapes, thereby enabling the structure to be extremely flexible in its use. The objects of the present invention are accomplished by the provision of a number of novel adapters which are employed for forming an upper and a lower pressure pad.

Each of the novel adapters of the present invention comprises a member including substantially flat end and side portions, the side portion having an elongated slot formed therethrough, and the end portion having openings formed therein. The upper pressure pad and the lower pressure pad are each constructed of a plurality of such adapters, preferably four in number, the adapters being identical with one another and interchangeable, if desired. The adapters of each pressure pad are disposed such that the end portions thereof are in abutting relationship with the side portions of adjacent adapters, bolts extending through the slots in the side portions and into the openings in the end portions for rigidly securing the adapters in fixed relationship to one another. The elongated slots in the side portionspermit relative adjustment of the adapters to define varying sized openings in the center thereof, and in addition, to provide varying shapes.

The adapters comprising the upper pressure pad are additionally provided with slots in the upper surface thereof, the under surface of the associated punch shoe being provided with T-shaped slots whereby T-bolts may be inserted through the aligned slots in the adapters and punch shoe for supporting the upper pressure pad from the punch shoe. In this connection, an important feature of the present invention is the fact that the slots formed in the upper surface of the adapter members forming the upper pressure pad are elongated and extend obliquely to the side portions and end portions thereof, thereby permitting relative movement of the adapters with respect to one another and with respect to the punch shoe in order to obtain the desired degree of adjustment.

Openings are also provided in the lower surface of the adapters forming the upper pressure pad, and bolts ex-' tend through these openings for retaining a die ring se: cured to the under surface of the upper pressure pad adapters.

Openings are also provided in the upper surface of the adapters forming the lower pressure pad, and bolts extend through these openings for securing a pressure ring to the upper surface of the lower pressure pad.

At this time, it is pointed out that the terms die ring and pressure ring as employed herein are intended to denote generically the ring which is secured to the under surface of the upper pressure pad and the ring which is secured to the upper surface of the lower pressure pad respectively, regardless of whether such rings are employed in a drawing operation, a trimming operation, or a blanking operation and the like. a

The lower pressure pad is mounted upon resiliently supported pressure pins and is normally supported above the upper surface of a die shoe which is spaced below the punch shoe in a conventional manner. The adapters of the upper pressure pad as well as the lower pressure pad define central openings therein, and the die ring and pressure ring also define central openings. A knock-out means is mounted within the central opening defined by the upper pressure pad, and a support means is mounted within the opening defined in the lower pressure pad, some sort of a forming means being mounted on the upper end of the support means, this forming means generically indicating a member such as a draw punch or a cutting punch. I

A further modification of the invention is the provision of a substantially annular boss which may be provided about the central opening in the die ring, this boss extending upwardly within the central opening defined by the upper pressure pad adapters and being of particular utility when drawing thin-walled stampings so as to prevent the stamping from bulging at the center of the side wall and sticking in the die when it is desired to knock out the workpiece when the punch shoe is on the upstroke.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel adjustable die apparatus which eliminates the necessity of providing a completely new die for each individual job.

Another object is the provision of an adjustable die apparatus which is especially adapted for dieing operations of varying size and shape.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable die apparatus which is adaptable for use in drawing, trimming, blanking and similar operations.

Yet another object ofthe invention is to provide an adjustable die apparatus incorporating an automatic knock-out mechanism and further to provide an adjusta'ble die apparatus which can be quickly. and easily assembled or disassembled.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable die apparatus which is simple and inexpensive in construction, and yet which is efficient and reliable in operation.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of the invention will become more apparent when considered in connection with the specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus with the punch shoe removed;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the apparatus taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the apparatus taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a punch shoe;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the guiding connection between the punch shoe and the die shoe;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of the adapter elements of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the upper pressure pad assembly;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates the manner of forming a square opening within the adapters;

FIG. 10 illustrates a modification illustrating the apparatus arranged for a trimming operation; and

FIG. 11 illustrates a modification arranged for a blanking operation.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIGS. 1-3 illustrate the general overall arrangement including a punch shoe which is normally raised and lowered by the ram of the press, and a die shoe 21 which may be fixed to the bed of the press. pressure pad indicated generally by reference numeral 22 is supported from the under surface of the punch shoe, and a lower pressure pad indicated generally by reference numeral 23 is supported upon a plurality of pressure pins 24 which are resiliently mounted in a conventional manner for cushioning the lower pressure pad. As seen most clearly in FIG. 4, the under surface of the punch shoe 20 is provided with a plurality of T-slots indicated by reference numerals 31 and 32 respectively, T-slots 31 being similar to one another and T-slots 32 being similar to one another. Sockets indicated by reference numeral 33 are cast in the die shoe to provide clearance for machining the T-slots since this enables the T-slots to be made in the most effective and inexpensive manner. It is noted that each of the T-slots is substantially parallel to the adjacent side edge of the punch shoe, T-slots 31 extending all the way to the edge portions of the punch shoe, and T-slots 32 being of substantially less length than slots 31, a central opening 35 is provided through the central portion of the punch shoe for a purpose hereinafter described.

A pair of openings 36 are provided through the punch shoe and as seen most clearly in FIG. 5, a bushing 37 is pressed in each of these openings. A pair of guide posts 38 are pressed into a pair of suitable openings 39 formed in die shoe 21 and extend upwardly and slide within the hollow boss formed in the guide bushings 37 for guiding the movement of the die shoe relative to the punch shoe during operation of the apparatus.

Referring now to FIG. 6 of the drawings, one of the adjustable adapters is illustrated and indicated generally by reference numeral 40, this particular adapter being especially adapted to form circular or oval openings therewith. Adapter element 40 as shown also in FIGS. 1 and 7, includes a substantially flatend portion 41 and a substantially fiat side portion 42 which extend approximately normally to one another. A side wall 43 is joined with an end wall 44, and top walls 45 and 46 form flanges which project laterally from the side and end walls to define a recess or groove 47 therebetween. An enlongated slot 53 is formed through side wall 43, and a pair of openings 48 and 49 are formed in the end wall 44, openings 48 and 49 being threaded for receiving correspondingly threaded bolts. An opening 50 is provided through the lower wall 46 of the element 40 shown in FIG. 6, which is also adapted to receive a bolt as hereinafter described. The element 40 as defined up to this point may be employed for forming the lower pressure pad of the apparatus, but for the purpose of providing an upper pressure pad, it is necessary to provide an addi- An upper 4 tional pair of elongated slots and 56 through the wall 45 opposite wall 46. It should be understood that all the adapter elements may be provided with slots 55 and 56, or the adapters comprising the lower pressure pad may eliminate the slots.

Elongated slots 55 and 56 have a particular relationship to the side and end portions of the adapters, and as seen most clearly in FIG. 1, for example, slots 55 and 56 of each adapter extend obliquely to the side and end portions thereof. A recessed portion 60 is provided about the upper portion of each of slots 55 and 56 which permits the enlarged head of the T-bolt to be rotated so that the T-bolts can be inserted Within the T-slots in the punch assembly after the upper pressure pad has been moved into contact with the lower surface of the punch shoe. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, T-bolts indicated by reference numeral 61 are inserted in operative position with the enlarged heads 62 thereof within the T-slots in the punch shoe 20, and with bolts 63 threaded on the lower ends thereof for maintaining the upper pressure pad in operative position relative to the punch shoe.

Referring again to FIG. 1, it is seen that in assembled position, the adapters 40 are disposed such that the end portions 41 thereof are in abutting relationship with the side portions 42 of an adjacent adapter, a pair of bolts 65 extending through the slots 53 in the side portions of the adapters and threaded into the openings 48 and 49 in the end portion of an adjacent adapter.

Laterally extending projections 51 are formed at the ends of each of the adapters, these laterally extending projections having arcuate surfaces 52, and as seen especially in FIG. 1, when the adapters are in assembled position, they cooperate to define a substantially circular opening which, of course, is particularly suited for supi porting a draw die ring having a circular opening for drawing a round configuration.

The disposition of the elongated slots 55 and 56 permits the adapter elements to be adjusted in the direction indicated by the arrows A--A in FIG. 1 and it is evident that these adapter elements may be so adjusted relative to one another and to the die shoe as to provide varying sized circular or oval shapes. In order to prevent rotation of the upper pressure pad during operation, a stop means indicated generally by reference numeral is provided, said stop means having a notched end portion 71 receiving a corner of one of the adapter members, the stop means being provided with a slotted member 72 within which an adjustable bolt 73 is provided, the bolt being threaded into a suitable opening provided in the punch shoe for adjusting the position of the stop member relative to the punch shoe. The engagement between the adapter and the stop member effectively prevents undesired rotation of the upper pressure pad durmg operation.

A bolt 75 extends through the opening 50 in the lower wall 46 of each of the adapters, and is threaded into correspondingly threaded openings 76 provided in a die ring 80 which may be constructed in accordance with known die procedures and provided with a central opening 81 of the desired shape and configuration for the particular object to be drawn. In this case, die ring 80 is preferably formed as an integral ring. A knock-out member 85 is slidably positioned within the central openmg provided within the upper pressure pad, knockout 85 having a size dependent on that of the member to be drawn. A knock-out rod 86 extends slidably through the central opening 35 in the central portion of punch shoe 20, the lower end of rod 86 being threaded and threadedly received within a correspondingly threaded opening 87 formed in knock-out 85. A peripherally recessed portion 88 is provided at the lower portion of knock-out 85 and is adapted to be received within the central opening in the die ring 80. The knock-out mechanism operates in a well-known manner. It is evident that upon the upstroke of the punch shoe 20, the

knock-out member 85 will engage the knock-out rod and push the drawn member out of the die ring 80. The lower pressure pad 23 as discussed previously is substantially identical with the upper pressure pad 22, the lower pressure pad including a plurality of adapters 40 which are rigidly secured to one another, as discussed in connection with the upper pressure pad, by a plurality of bolts 65 extending through the elongated slots in the side portions of the adapters and being threaded within the openings in the end portions of the adjacent adapters. Openings 50 provided in the upper wall 46' of the lower adapters have bolts 90 extending therethrough, the bolts being threaded into suitable openings 91 provided in a pressure ring 92, the pressure ring having a central opening 93 therein and being preferably an integral annular member.

A support member 95 has a shank portion 96 threaded within a central opening 97 in the die shoe 21, and a draw punch 98 is supported on the upper end of support member 95. Draw punch 98 is fitted snugly within opening 93 in the pressure ring, and has an outer surface which corresponds with the desired drawn shape of the workpiece indicated by reference numeral 100. An air vent passage 101 opens at the upper surface of the support 95, and a laterally extending passage 102 provides communication with the outer surface of the support member. Passage 101 communicates with a passage 103 formed longitudinally through the draw punch for venting air from the under surface of the workpiece during operation.

It is apparent that the upper and lower pressure pads are each composed of a plurality of adapter members, the position of which may be selectively adjusted for varying the size and shape of the pressure pads thereby providing a pressure pad of suflicient mass and rigidity to prevent undesired flexibility or distortion when performing the dieing operation. The die ring and pressure ring are fixed respectively to the under surface of the upper pressure pad and the upper surface of the lower pres sure pad and cooperate with one another to perform the dieing operation in connection with the draw punch mounted at the center of the apparatus. The knockout mechanism serves to positively remove the workpiece from the device after completion of the dieing operation.

Referring now to FIG. 8, there is shown a modification wherein a modified die ring 80' is employed with the same components as shown in FIGS. 1-3, the differenoe being that the modified die ring is provided with a substantially annular boss 105 extending upwardly substantially normally to the plane of the main body portion of the die ring, boss 105 being received within the central opening defined by the upper pressure pad adapter-s. This particular type of die ring is especially adapted for use when drawing thin-walled stampings to prevent the stampings from bulging at the center of the side wall and sticking in the die when being knocked out of the die on the upstroke. As mentioned previously, the remaining components of the apparatus shown in FIG. 8 are similar to those shown in FIGS. 1-3, and have been given the same reference numerals primed.

Referring now to FIG. 9 of the drawings, a further modification of the invention is illustrated, wherein a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrates a modified pressure pad wherein a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrates a modified pressure pad wherein each of the modified adapter elements 4%) is constructed in a manner very similar to adapters 40 shown in FIG. 6, similar parts thereof having been given the same reference numerals primed. The distinction between the adapter elements 40 and adapter elements 40 is that adapters 40' are provided with a side portion 42' which is flat and extends in a substantial plane completely to the end portion thereof, the lateral projections 51 of the adapters '40 being eliminated. Whereas the adapters 40 shown in FIG. 6 are particularly adapted for use in drawing round or oval objects, the adapters 40 shown in FIG. 9 are especially adapted for drawing square or rectangilar objects. In FIG. 9, the adapters 40' are shown secured to one another so as to draw a substantially square configuration in a workpiece indicated by reference numeral 110. It is evident that adapters 40 may also be adjusted to draw rectangular shaped objects by proper adjustment of the adapters 4G with respect to one another.

Referring now to FIG. 10 of the drawings, a modification is illustrated which is adapted to perform a trimming operation in contrast to the drawing operation performed by the apparatus shown in FIGS. l-3 for example. The apparatus shown in FIG. 10 is substantially the same as that shown in FIGS. 1-3, the punch and die shoes being identical as well as the upper and lower pressure pads and the spacer member. These components have accordingly been given the same reference numerals double primed. It should be understood that the adapter members of the upper and lower pressure pads are adjusted in the manner previously described to obtain the desired size and shape in accordance with the workpiece which is to be trimmed. An annular stripper ring 120 is secured to the upper surface of the lower pressure pad by bolts and a tool steel hardened cutting punch 121 is secured to the upper end of the spacer by bolts (not shown) or other suitable conventional means. The cutting punch is provided with a gauge plug 122 on the upper surface thereof for properly positioning the workpiece indicated by reference numeral 123. A tool steel hardened die cutting ring 125 is secured to the lower surface of the upper pressure pad by bolts 75", this die cutting ring cooperating with the cutting punch to sever an annular portion indicated by reference numeral 126 from the workpiece 123 during operation of the apparatus. In this modification, a knockout 130 is provided with a threaded opening 131 in the upper surface thereof, this opening receiving the lower threaded end of a knock-out rod 132 which is slidably received within the central opening 35 in the punch shoe 20". Knock-out 130 is provided with a central recess 135 which receives the workpiece 123, and an annular groove 136 is formed around the lower outer periphery thereof such that the radially inward surface of groove 136 is slidably received within the central opening formed in the die cutting ring 125. The knock-out mechanism operates in a conventional manner for removing the workpiece from the die cutting ring on the upstroke of the punch shoe.

' Referring now to FIG. 11 of the drawings, a modifica tion is illustrated which is particularly adapted for performing blanking operations. This modification is again quite similar to that shown in FIGS. l-3, the punch and die shoes as well as the upper and lower pressure pads being the same, and having the same reference numerals triple primed. As seen in FIG. 11, a tool steel hardened cutting punch 140 is secured to the upper surface of sup port member 95 by means of bolts or the like (not shown. A tool steel hardened die cutting ring 141 is secured (to the lower surface of the upper pressure pad by means of bolts 75", the die cutting ring 141 and the cutting punch 140 serving during operation to shear off an annular ring 145 from a flat workpiece indicated by reference numeral 146.

A stripper ring is secured to the upper surface of the lower pressure pad by means of bolts 90', the stripper ring being provided with a plurality of threaded openings 151 around the central opening therein, only one of the openings being illustrated in FIG. 11. An upper head 152 is threaded within each of openings 151 and a lower head 153 is also threaded therein. Upper head 152 has a central opening therein, and a gauge pin 155 is slidably disposed within this opening, head 156 being provided at the lower end of the gauge pin. A compression spring 160 is disposed between lower head 153 and the under surface of head 156 of the gauge pin for urging the gauge pin in an upward direction. 'It is accordingly evident that each of the gauge pins is resiliently urged upwardly and is adapted to engage the upper periphery of the workpiece 146 for accurately positioning the same in operative position during operation of the apparatus.

A knock-out 160 is slidably received within the upper pressure pad, and is provided with a peripherally recessed portion 161 at the lower portion thereof, the radially inward surface of this recessed portion being slidably received within the central opening in die cutting ring 141. A knock-out rod 162 slidably projects through the central opening 35" in the punch shoe 20", the lower threaded end of rod 162 being threaded within a central threaded opening 163 provided in the upper surface of the knock-out 160, the knockout mechanism operating in a well-known manner.

It is apparent from the foregoing that there is provided a new and novel adjustable die apparatus which eliminates the necessity of forming an entirely new die for each particular job, and it is only necessary to construct a relatively inexpensive die ring which may be secured to the adjustable upper pressure pad. In a similar manner, it is only necessary to provide a relatively inexpensive pressure ring for any particular job which may be secured to the adjustable lower pressure pad. The apparatus is quite flexible in that it may be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled, and further is adapted to provide varying sizes and shapes within a fairly wide range. For example, dieing operations may be performed on workpieces having round, oval, square, or rectangular shapes, and it will be evident to one skilled in the art that the principles of the invention can be employed for performing die operations with various other configurations. The invention contemplates drawing, trimming, blanking, and similar operations, a particular advantage of the invention being the fact that identical adapter elements may be employed in the upper and lower pressure pads thereby insuring minimum cost and maximum interchangeability. An automatic knockout mechanism is provided, and the adjustable die apparatus is quite simple and inexpensive in construction, and yet is efiicient and reliable in operation.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their function as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

We claim:

1. Adjustable die apparatus comprising punch shoe means, a first plurality of adjustable adapter members supported by said punch shoe means, said adjustable adapter members each including a portion connected directly to a portion of an adjacent adapter member along an engaging surface to provide a rigid upper pressure pad, means securing each adapter member to the punch shoe for lateral adjustable movement on the punch shoe in a direction oblique to its engaging surface, a onepiece die ring secured to the under surface of said upper pressure pad, die shoe means disposed in spaced relationship to said punch shoe means, a second plurality of adjustable adapter members supported adjacent said die shoe means, said second plurality of adjustable adapter members each including a portion connected directly to a portion of an adjacent adapter member to provide a rigid lower pressure pad, and a one-piece pressure ring secured to the upper surface of the lower pressure pad.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a plurality of bolts, said first plurality of adapter members having elongated slots formed therethrough, said bolts extending through said slots in each of the first adapter members for securing the first adapter members to said punch shoe means and permitting adjustment of said adapters relative to each other and said punch shoe means.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first plurality of adapter members define a central opening, a knock-out means disposed within said central opening for removing the workpiece from the die ring when the punch shoe means is retracted from the die shoe means upon completion of operation of the apparatus.

4. Adjustable die apparatus comprising a punch shoe having a plurality of slots formed in the under surface thereof, a first plurality of adjustable adapters having elongated slots formed therein, bolt means extending through the slots formed in said punch shoe and said first adapters for securing said adapters in operative position, said adapters each including side portions and end portions, the end portion of each adapter being in abutting relationship with a side portion of an adjacent adapter along an engaging surface, said adapters being secured to one another to provide a rigid upper pressure pad, each of said adapters being mounted on said punch shoe for lateral adjustable movement on the punch shoe in a direction oblique to its engaging surface, a die ring secured to the under surface of said pressure pad, a die shoe disposed in spaced relationship to said punch shoe, a second plurality of adjustable adapters supported above said die shoe and below said first plurality of adapters, said second plurality of adapters each including an end portion and a side portion, the end portion of each of said second plurality of adapters being disposed in abutting relationship with the side portion of an adjacent adapter, said second plurality of adapters being secured to one another to provide a rigid lower pressure pad, and a pressure ring secured to the upper surface of said lower pressure pad.

5. Adjustable die apparatus comprising a punch shoe having a plurality of slots formed in the under surface thereof, a first plurality of adjustable adapters having elongated slots formed therein, bolt means extending through the slots formed in said punch shoe and said first adapters for securing said adapters in operative position, said adapters each including side portions and end portions, the end portion of each adapter being in abutting relationship with a side portion of an adjacent adapter, said adapters being secured to one another to provide a rigid upper pressure pad, a die ring secured to the under surface of said pressure pad, a die shoe disposed in spaced relationship to said punch shoe, 2. second plurality of adjustable adapters supported above said die shoe and below said first plurality of adapters, said second plurality of adapters each including an end portion and a side portion, the end portion of each of said second plurality of adapters being disposed in abutting relationship with the side portion of an adjacent adapter, said second plurality of adapters being secured to one another to provide a rigid lower pressure pad, and a pressure ring secured to the upper surface of said lower pressure pad, said punch shoe including a plurality of slots formed in the under surface thereof, each of said first plurality of adapters having slots formed therein, bolt means extending through aligned slots in each of said adapters and said punch shoe, the slots in each of said adapters being disposed at an oblique angle to the side and the end portions thereof for permitting adjustable movement of the adapters with respect to one another so as to vary the size of the central opening defined therebetween.

6. Adjustable die apparatus comprising a punch shoe having a plurality of slots formed in the under surface thereof, a first plurality of adjustable adapters having elongated slots formed therein, bolt means extending through the slots formed in said punch shoe and said first adapters for securing said adapters in operative position, said adapters each including side portions and end portions, the end portion of each adapter being in abutting relationship with a side portion of an adjacent adapter, said adapters being secured to one another to provide a rigid upper pressure pad, a die ring secured to the under surface of said pressure pad, a die shoe disposed in spaced relationship to said punch shoe, a second plurality of adjustable adapters supported above said die shoe and below said first plurality of adapters, said second plurality of adapters each including an end portion and a side portion, the end portion of each of said second plurality of adapters being disposed in abutting relationship with the side portion of an adjacent adapter, said second plurality of adapters being secured to one another to provide a rigid lower pressure pad, and a pressure ring secured to the upper surface of said lower pressure pad, each of said adapter members being provided with an elongated slot formed through the side portion thereof which is in abutting relationship with an end portion of an adjacent adapter, and bolt means extending through said lastmentioned elongated slot for securing adjacent adapters to one another and permitting relative adjustment with respect to one another.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the end portion of each of said adapters is provided with a plurality of openings receiving bolts extending through the elongated slots in the side portions of adjacent adapters for rigidly securing the adapters together.

8. Adjustable die apparatus comprising a punch shoe having a plurality of slots formed in the under surface thereof, a first plurality of adjustable adapters having elongated slots formed therein, bolt means extending through the slots formed in said punch shoe and said first adapters for securing said adapters in operative position, said adapters each including side portions and end portions, the end portion of each adapter being in abutting relationship with a side portion of an adjacent adapter, said adapters being secured to one another to provide a rigid upper pressure pad, a die ring secured to the under surface of said pressure pad, a die shoe disposed in spaced relationship to said punch shoe, a second plurality of adjustable adapters supported above said die shoe and below said first plurality of adapters, said second plurality of adapters each including an end portion and a side portion, the end portion of each of said second plurality of adapters being disposed in abutting relationship with the side portion of an adjacent adapter, said second plurality of adapters being secured to one another to provide a rigid lower pressure pad, and a pressure ring secured to the upper surface of said lower pressure pad, said first plurality of adapters defining a central opening, and said second plurality of adapters defining a central opening, said die ring and said pressure ring each having central openings formed therein, and forming means disposed within the opening defined in said pressure ring, support means being disposed Within the central opening defined by said second plurality of adapters, said support means engaging the under surfaces of said forming means and being supported upon the upper surface of said die shoe.

9. Adjustable die apparatus comprising a punch shoe having a plurality of slots formed in the under surface thereof, a first plurality of adjustable adapters having elongated slots formed therein, bolt means extending through the slots formed in said punch shoe and said first adapters for securing said adapters in operative position, said adapters each including side portions and end portions, the end portion of each adapter being in abutting relationship with a side portion of an adjacent adapter, said adapters being secured to one another to provide a rigid upper pressure pad, a die ring secured to the under surface of said pressure pad, a die shoe disposed in spaced relationship to said punch shoe, a second plurality of adjustable adapters supported above said die shoe and below said first plurality of adapters, said second plurality of adapters each including an end portion and a side portion, the end portion of each of said second plurality of adapters being disposed in abutting relationship with the side portion of an adjacent adapter, said second plurality of adapters being secured to one another to provide a rigid lower pressure pad, and a pressure ring secured to the upper surface of said lower pressure pad, said second plurality of adapters being supported by resiliently mounted pressure pins for cushioning the action of the apparatus when the punch shoe is urged toward the die shoe.

10. Adjustable die apparatus comprising a punch shoe having a plurality of slots formed in the under surface thereof, an upper pressure pad supported from the under surface of said punch shoe, said upper pressure pad comprising a first plurality of adapters, said adapters being of identical construction and being completely interchangeable, each of said adapters including substantially flat side portions and end portions, said side portions having elongated slots formed therein, said end portions having threaded openings formed therein, said adapters being positioned such that the end portion of each adapter is disposed in abutting relationship with the side portion of an adjacent adapter, bolts extending through the slots in said side portions and into the openings in said end portions for rigidly securing said adapters together, and elongated slots formed in said adapters and extending obliquely to said side portions and said end portions, bolt means extending through said last-mentioned slots and the slots in the under surface of said punch shoe for securing the upper pressure pad in operative position, said first plurality of adapters defining a central opening therebetween, said first plurality of adapters having openings forming in the lower surface thereof, a die ring, bolts extending through said last-mentioned openings for securing said die ring to the under surface of said upper pressure pad, a lower pressure pad comprising a second plurality of identical adapters similar to said first plurality of adapters, each of said second plurality of adapters having substanitally flat end portions and side portions, the end portions of each of said second plurality of adapters being disposed in abutting relationship with the side portions of adjacent adapters, the side portions of each of said second plurality of adapters having elongated slots formed therein and the end portions having threaded openings formed therein, bolts extending through said last-mentioned elongated slots and into said last-mentioned openings for rigidly securing said second plurality of adapters to one another, said lower pressure pad being supported upon resilient pressure pins, a die shoe spaced from said punch shoe, said pressure pins normally extending above the upper surface of the die shoe for supporting said lower pressure pad in operative position, openings formed in the upper surface of said second plurality of adapters, a pressure ring, and bolts extending through said last-mentioned openings for securing said pressure ring to the upper surface of said lower pressure pad.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 including stop means secured to the under surface of said punch shoe and engaging at least one of said first plurality of adapters for preventing rotation of said upper pressure pad during operation of the apparatus.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein each of said adapters is provided with a laterally extending projection at the end portion thereof, said projection having an arcuate surface thereon whereby said arcuate surfaces define a substantial portion of a central circular opening.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said first plurality of adapters defines a central opening therebetween, and including a knockout means disposed Within said central opening.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said die ring is provided with a cutting edge, said pressure ring having a central opening formed therein, and a cutting punch supported within said last-mentioned opening for cooperating with said die ring.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said die ring includes a substantially annular boss extending substantially normally from the plane of the main body por- 11 12 tion of the die ring, said boss defining a central opening 1,778,339 Rafter Oct. 14, 1930 within the die ring. 1,825,067 Johnson Sept. 29, 1931 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,009,660 Irmis July 30, 1935 UNITED TA PATENTS 2,136,308 Miller Nov. 8, 1938 440,256 Bauer N v 11,189() 5 2,779,274 Gedden Jen.29,1957

1,151,625 Sonneborn -1 Aug. 31, 1915 

